Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies2025-08-232025-08-232021https://repository.nials.edu.ng/handle/123456789/39The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) in early 2020. Since then, the virus has spread across the globe and evolved into several variants, including Delta and Omicron. The Omicron variant, first reported to the WHO from South Africa on November 24, 2021, reignited memories of the initial outbreak as many countries reinstated earlier response measures such as travel restrictions. Experts caution that much about COVID-19 remains uncertain, as research into its evolving nature and characteristics continues worldwide.en-USArticle